Search Results for 'Brian Lenihan'

I have received some correspondence over the last few months telling me that I am unbalanced in my column because I have an anti-Fianna Fail agenda. This would be one of the more moderate and considered communications. Others have not been quite so polite. To set the record straight here is my personal position.

Kilkenny Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness has welcomed the establishment of the Credit Review Office, an independent dedicated centre to ensure that the credit system is operating effectively for small and medium-size businesses. SMEs are businesses with fewer than 250 employees, turnover of less than €50m, and/or a balance sheet value of less than €43m.

Kilkenny borough councillor Kathleen Funchion, was elected to the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle at the party’s Ard Fheis held in Dublin over the weekend.

The establishment of an expert committee on indebtedness highlights the Government’s commitment to helping those struggling with financial pressures, according to Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary.

I wrote recently of the urgent need for competence in Government. Commercial competence gained through experience at the coalface is essential to successfully negotiate the current economic challenges. In any major public organisation the people at the helm are appointed on ability gained through experience of working at a high level in business.

In this column last August I criticised the ridiculous economic strategy better known to us all as NAMA. I illustrated how it can never achieve its objective and how it will be a financial millstone around our necks for generations to come. It come to light in the last week that Messrs Cowen and Lenihan knew this all along but decided to carry on regardless.

It’s time to rip it up and start again, nothing else will do for the Ireland we currently find ourselves in. Politically, institutionally, and economically, staying wedded to our current ideologies is no longer an option. They have proven to be either failures or past their sell-by date.

After months of speculation it has been confirmed that the District Court Office in Ballina is to remain open. The announcement was made by Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary, who revealed this week that he has been engaged in talks to secure its retention for the past 12 months. Deputy John O’Mahony has also received written confirmation from the courts service that there are no plans to close Ballina and transfer staff to Castlebar.

Boston Scientific is to invest €50 million in strategic research and development at its Galway facility. The corporation, which specialises in medical devices for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, will invest the money with the support of IDA Ireland.

The stock market here at home recorded the largest one-day increase in its history on Friday after a week that rocked the financial world to its core.